Tag: tatting

I happy to introduce one of my latest fiber art designs, Dreamer. The original thought in my mind was different than the outcome, which frequently happens in my work as it evolves. The conception changes as I work with the colors and texture. I change my decisions as to where it is going based on what I am feeling and seeing. My palette of colors was chosen and the linen pressed and stretched to a frame creating a canvas for me to work on. The colors were grouped in families; warm grays, browns, mauve, grapes, reds, oranges, and a family of contrasts in chartreuse. I used what is available here from my huge stock of threads, mostly cotton floss but also pearl cotton, rayon and metallic threads. All the thread was cut into usable lengths and tied to cards for organization. All the skeins of thread were kept in small packages that were secured to a large ring. The organization it takes to start any of my projects usually takes a couple of hours itself.

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This embroidery began with a drawing of the face in graphite. The face I drew was shortened as I stitched and the expression slightly altered to convey more contentment and appear more realistic.

I started to take progress photos of the stitching of the “hair” after the face was completed. I worked on this for an hour or two at a time. Every time I stepped away I saw how the colors needed worked and re-worked to create a blended effect. There are approximately 34 colors in this work. I have to use my threads to blend much as a painter blends their paint. Shades, tones and tints. The process was interesting for me. I have never created something like this before. It was neat to continually add more color, more depth to the design. The slide show below shows some of the progression of stitching. The colors are off because I took the photos under various lighting with my camera or phone.

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The result of my stitching and stitching was heavy layers of the cotton floss and the design became raised from the linen. Incredible texture was created due to the process I was using to paint the linen; Add a new color, work it into the previous layer, add low lights, work the previous layer into the new one and add highlights, repeat. Hours went by. The images in the slide show below show the depth and texture of Dreamer.

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After the hair was completed…or more accurately, I stopped nitpicking and reworking the design, I added the chartreuse to the spaces between the curls making my choice of colors “pop” even more vibrantly. In the final hours of work, I added pearl cotton, rayon and metallic threads for spark throughout the hair. But the icing on the cake was the brilliant Swarovski crystals that were added and the tiny little pop-up PIXIE butterflies that flutter about the curls. The PIXIEs are shuttle tatted with the finest cordonnet and wee silver-lined glass beads are tatted into the wings. The are hand sewn in and stiffened to remain 3-D. I created a swirl of shimmer radiating from the face to the tips of the flaming hair. In the next set of detail pics you can see the raised butterflies, Swarovski crystals and the chartreuse that peeks through the curls.

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I framed the work myself. I chose a simple silver metal frame and double mat in white and an ivory that matches the linen.

Dreamer is now available for sale in my Etsy shop, Snappy Tatter. You can find the listing and full description here. I am also joining another venue called fineartamerica to sell prints of this and other embroideries. When I have my account up and running, I will post here so you can stop by and tell me what you think! I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about what a Snappy Tatter does when she is not tatting! Comments are encouraged!

It’s that time of year folks. There is snow flurrying outside my western Pennsylvania home as I write this! I have 10 Ornament styles that are custom made in my shop now. I plan to have more soon. The following Snappy Tatter designs can be made in two different sizes and several colors. Click each flake picture to be taken to my Etsy shop listing with more pictures and full descriptions including available sizes and colors.

All of these designs are listed with a quantity of 3 most of the time. Larger quantities can be made but will take additional time, just ask. New ideas are popping up in my head all the time so hopefully I will have some new designs listed soon. I thought, since snow is falling outside my window today, I would take the time to showcase all of the Flakes I have available for custom tatting. I also have a couple of Ice Crystals and Snowballs available too. Visit this shop section, Tatted Ornaments, to find both the made to order and read to ship ornaments that are currently ready for this season.

I have truly enjoyed making watches over the past year and a half. Sweet, functional time pieces of wearable fiber art, all have been decadent tributes to nature with the exception of Watch V, which is my own contemporary cuff. You can find photos all of the watches I have made so far in the gallery to the left. And you can find any that are available for sale in my shop, here. Currently there are 3 for sale, IV, VII and VIII. Each one is so different with a different color scheme and varying textures. Here are photos of the 3 newest ones, the first of which has sold.

~Garden Watch VI~

~Garden Watch VII~

~Garden Watch VIII~

I hope to be starting another one soon. They take a considerable amount of time to tat the components and finish into the final design. A base layer of tatting is created often with beading tatted into the band. Vines, flowers, leaves and butterflies are either tatted separately and hand sewn into the band or they are tatted into the band with the watchface attached. Glass beading, crystal pearls and Swarovski elements are then added. The bands are constructed in different manners depending on each design. I use ribbon as a base so the work will not stretch over time. Frequently I brush the Stainless faces so the warm metal below shows through. It tends to make the watchface blend with the tatting better. Small parts of the design are attached to some of the faces by an industrial resin making the design more playful and like a garden. I’ve been trying to stay close to 6″ long and add a 2″ chain for a fit from 6-8″ which should fit most everyone. I hope you have enjoyed my latest watches.

I’ve missed you all! I just haven’t been keeping up with my posting on here. I am always faced with that challenge to keep up with my networking, my sales, my new creations, my stitching and my showcasing work here. And then there’s real life…oh yeah, that. At any rate…I did go on another retreat with my lady friends recently and then was out in the woods for our last camping trip of the season during which I caught a cold. I got laid up by the cold for a week and have spent the last week catching up. So here I am again. Hi!

I have decided to continue to send out an e-newsletter to the peeps that have signed up for it but I will only be briefly discussing any local events I may be going to and then directing my e-newsletter fans to here. The reason is because I have been doing things the other way around and I have more followers on here that I would like to get the same info. Just trying to streamline the work that is repetitive.

I have been working on framing some of my fiber artwork. I frame my own work. I have the knowledge and supplies and retail framing is extremely expensive. Considering I do not have the money and have my own mat cutter and acid-free supplies, I just order the frame parts and put it together here. I am hoping to have pictures of three works that have been finished and are awaiting framing. I am looking into making prints for two of the pieces as well as they will be expensive and will take time to sell. It would be nice for people who do not want to commit to the original to be able to enjoy the print. And printings will help provide income while I wait for the originals to sell.

I updated my shop banner to the autumn theme:

Up next is the second part of “The Story of Snappy Tatter” that I started a few months ago when my business turned 5. Here is the first installment: The Story of Snappy Tatter Part I

Also-galleries of my fiber art are coming and three additions to my Tatted Couture watch gallery.

In the meantime…continue to enjoy Free Shipping in my online shop, Snappy Tatter using coupon code “SNAPPYSHIPPING” at checkout.

I’ve spent the past few days listing several pairs of new earrings of my simplest design; Strand, Drips, Frilly and Flash Drips and Drops. Frequently these earrings are made from the remaining 1/2 yard of cord that is on my shuttles after finishing larger designs. Instead of cutting and throwing away the ends I tat a couple of rings and create small, elegant, earrings that are very popular in my Etsy shop, Snappy Tatter.

click each photo to be taken to the listing with more photos, a full description and pricing

~ Drips~

~Frilly Drips~

~Flash Drips~

~Drops~

~Strand~

I hope you enjoyed the gallery. I’ll be back soon with part two of “The story of Snappy Tatter”. I’m off to finish two more cuffs and a new watch.

Hi Peeps! You can find all of the information for the upcoming Arts Festival in the post below. Here is a quick gallery of all of the newest pendants I have made for the festival. They are not available (yet) in my online shop, Snappy Tatter, which is currently on vacation while I get ready. My made to order listings will be available starting tomorrow. In the meantime, I hope to see many of you at the Festival. Enjoy the gallery!

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If you would like to know pricing or have any of these pendants made just for you, drop me a line!

The New Castle Riverwalk Arts Festival is coming quick! I spent the last few days finishing 30 pairs of earrings. It’s a very time-consuming and tedious but earrings are a huge seller at local shows so I like to have a large variety there. I don’t have time to chat…now I am on to pendants! Hopefully I will be able to post photos of them soon. Enjoy the gallery!

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And a quick FYI…my online shop, Snappy Tatter, is temporarily on vacation till the day before the show when Made to Order (MTO) listings will become available. I just needed more time!